My Desktop

My desktop is still clean and clutter free. Anything I’m working on gets saved to it, and then deleted or moved into a folder when I’m through with it. I also try to change the desktop at least monthly, but I’ve been using the one pictured above for the last few months (I don’t remember where the image is from).

Antivirus & Malaware

Making sure my computer is protected is my number 1 priority and I’m still using very similar software to last year.

2. Avast SecureLine VPN ($59.99/yr). Encrypts unsecured wireless internet connections. This is now my 3rd year using this program, and seems more worth it now that Im on public wifi a lot more since I travel a lot more.

3. Malaware Bytes (Free). I still check my computer about once a week for spyware.

4. CCleaner (Free). This is used about once a month to keep things tidy.

Document Control

Nothing has changed in this section (or the next from last year).

5. Dropbox (Free). Sync and forget about it is the beauty of this program. I have “My Documents” folder synced. I also routinely transfer images from my phone to dropbox when I want to edit them on my computer.

6. Google Drive (Free). Another free storage utility – I use it less often than Dropbox

For Blogging

8. Mozilla Firefox (Free) . Because of the superb add-ons I’ve stuck with this for years. Yes, I tried Chrome, but I came back to Firefox and haven’t even been tempted since.

9. Adobe Photoshop Essentials 14 ($59.99). I learned off Photoshop and will probably only stop using it when they make it prohibitively expensive. The price for Essentials is a one-time fee – and it works just as well as it’s big brother.

Media & Communication

11. Netflix and Hulu. Because we don’t have cable … except during football season.
12. Kindle app and Nook app. Although I primarily read eBooks on my phone, I still consider these essentials on my computer too.

13. Airdroid. Right now, just testing out this app to mirror my phone to the PC.